Dr. Arthur Virgil Brown's Obituary
Dr. Arthur V. Brown, 79 years old, of West Fork, Arkansas passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 23rd, after a short battle with brain cancer. He was surrounded by loving family and friends.
Art was born on March 1, 1940 in Huntsville, Texas to James Arthur and Fannie Jane Brown. He received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas and his Ph.D. from the University of North Texas in Denton.
He was a professor at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville for 41 years in the Biology department until his retirement in 2015. He enjoyed teaching and mentoring both graduate and undergraduate students in the field of Stream Ecology. He was respected worldwide for his research in the rivers and streams of the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains. He was also responsible for the discovery and naming of two endangered cave organisms: a blind cavefish and a blind cave crayfish. He published in many scientific journals and wrote several book chapters in professional reference books.
If asked to describe himself, he would begin with proclaiming that he was a Christian. He was a member of the Mount Comfort Church of Christ, formerly the North Street Church of Christ, for more than 40 years. He also loved being outdoors enjoying hunting, fishing and observing wildlife. Planning the hunt was almost as much fun to him as the actual hunt. Other hobbies included woodworking, traveling and writing short stories. He used his innate architectural talents to construct multiple structures on his property including a barn, garage with apartment, and a house.
Art was preceded in death by his parents, James Arthur and Fannie Jane Brown of Pasadena, TX, his sister, Virginia Martin of El Campo, TX and brother, R.L. Brown of West Columbia, TX. He is survived by his wife and best friend of 42 years, Kris Brown of West Fork, his son, Adam Brown of Windsor, CT, his daughter, Alyson Thornton of Woodland, CA, and three sisters, Betty Sue Morgan of Huntsville, TX, Bonnie Harvey of Trinity, TX, and Evie Guidry of Lago Vista, TX. He also leaves behind 5 grandchildren, Amanda Boxley, Jesse Brown, Aaron Thornton, Nicole Thornton and Emma Thornton, and 8 great grandchildren.
He was greatly loved and will be sorely missed by many.
Funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m. Thursday, February 27, at Moore’s Funeral Chapel. Burial is in Mount Comfort Cemetery. Visitation is from 10:00 a.m. until service time Thursday, at Moore’s. Memorials are preferred to Razorbacks for Christ, C/O Mount Comfort Church of Christ, 3249 West Mount Comfort Road, Fayetteville, AR, 72704, or Paragould Children’s Home, 5515 Walcott Road, Paragould, AR, 72745.
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